Change in Egypt peace treaty approved

The amendment was passed by a 53 to 28 majority vote.

The new agreement was approved by the cabinet Sunday; Education Minister Limor Livnat and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Tzachi Hanegbi were the only ones to oppose the move.

According to the revised agreement, Egypt will work to prevent the smuggling of weapons and ammunition to the Palestinian Authority, after IDF troops complete their withdrawal from Gaza, probably sometime in September. 

During the session Netanyahu criticized Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, saying, “We are harming the peace treaty with Egypt; this withdrawal is, in effect, sanctifying the return to the 1967 borders. With the uprooting and expelling of Jews, Sharon is giving terror a tailwind, and it is no surprise that (Palestinian Authority Chairman) Mahmoud Abbas, not to mention Mohammed Deif, say ‘today Gaza, tomorrow Jerusalem.’”

“This withdrawal, this panic, is viewed by the Palestinians as the first step on the road to Jerusalem,” he said.

“The Palestinians have begun the construction of hundreds of illegal structures in Jerusalem, while thousands of legal Israeli homes that were built in Gush Katif legally and in accordance with the decrees of Israeli governments are being destroyed."

'The nation does not believe you'

"Apparently Sharon is being pressured. The Americans are applying pressure; so what? They pressured me as well. The battle for Jerusalem is waging, and Sharon is allowing the Palestinians to win.”

Vice Premier Shimon Peres said in response to Netanyahu’s comments ‘I think you (Netanyahu) should be grateful to Mofaz for this agreement, as you will soon adopt it as well. We know you. What happened in the previous elections? You supported the Oslo (Accords), you traveled to Wye Plantation, met with (Yasser) Arafat and gave up Hebron. Who dismantled the Jewish settlements in Sinai? Was it not the Likud?”

“You said you are good for the Jews, but non-Jews also reside in Israel; you will not deter the nation, because the nation does not believe you,” he said.

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Chairman Yuval Steinitz criticized the government in a letter to Knesset members Wednesday morning, saying the 38 minutes the government devoted to discussing the changes were insufficient.

Steinitz said he could not understand why the cabinet held long meetings on the fate of synagogues in Gaza settlements, but barely found time to discuss changes to the peace treaty with Egypt (which allowed the troop deployment).

He added that he had long felt like a “prophet of doom,” warning of the future, but has encountered "walls" in the government. 

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said in response, “This agreement was drafted according to the expert advice of military officials, the chief of staff and me. As for the Philadelphi route, those who do not understand reality has changed should examine the new reality. I ask the Knesset members and ministers on hand, assuming we all have a son in the army – would you permit your son to be stationed at the Philadelphi route when there is a better alternative that does not endanger IDF soldiers’ lives?”

“Furthermore, the peace treaty with Egypt has been stable for the past 26 years. I believe the peace treaty with Egypt demonstrates peace and stability," he said.

“I would like to say to all the prophets of the apocalypse: Stop frightening the people of Israel.”